Page 24 of What Haunts the Heart
10
Eden
Iwasn’t sure what possessed me to bite Oakley, but I didn’t regret it. Not one bit. He was mine and I wasn’t letting him go without a fight. I’d never felt so utterly connected with someone in my entire life. In such a short amount of time, Oakley had nestled his way into my wary heart.
Now I needed to trust him not to break it.
But that was the thing—Ididtrust him. More than that? I loved him. I wasn’t quite sure when it’d happened, but I loved Oakley Kingston and I’d just proved it by claiming him. We were now bound by fate, our souls tied together. For better or for worse, Oakley was my mate and I was his.
Oakley kissed my temple on a soft hum of sound. “C’mon, baby. Let’s go wash up.”
I grumbled and cinched my arms a little tighter around him. “Ngh… But you’re so warm.” I buried my face into the crook of his neck and drew his delicious autumn scent into my lungs.Mine.My inner-peacock puffed up and strutted around, pleased as punch that we’d finally claimed our mate.
Instead of arguing with me, Oakley only chuckled. “The shower will be warmer.” He scooped me up off the couch and into his arms. I squeaked and clung to him like a spider monkey, but let him carry me down the hall and into the bathroom.
He sat me down on the edge of the sink. I reluctantly released him to turn the water on, so it could get nice and hot. After a moment, he pulled the shower curtain back. I slipped off the pedestal and ducked beneath his arm, groaning when the hot water washed over my back.
Oakley laughed. “Told you,” he said as he joined me in the shower. He adjusted the shower head so it would spray directly over me and then, to my shock, he started to wash my hair. “Let me take care of you.” His breath fluttered warm in my ear.
It felt good to surrender myself to my mate. His touch was tender as he gently shampooed and conditioned my hair, then began washing my body with a soapy cloth. I relaxed into his embrace and let my head fall back to rest against his shoulder. He kissed the side of my neck and I sighed happily.
I loved the way he touched me, like I was precious to him. It made me feel wanted, desired, loved. As the water sluiced over us, I leaned up on my tiptoes and kissed him. I wanted him to know how much I loved him, when those words felt so foreign on my lips.
When was the last time I told somebody I loved them? Even as a friend? I paused, but I didn’t have to think hard. It’d been a long time. My parents never threw that word around—not to each other and certainly not to me. To be honest, I wasn’t sure they’d ever said they loved me. I was a burden to them, the reason their lives had come to a screeching halt.
“Eden?” Oakley whispered, touching my face. When I blinked the tears away, I saw concern shining in his gorgeous topaz eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“I love you,” I blurted out.
Slowly, his confusion and worry melted away and a broad smile replaced his frown. He wrapped his strong arms around me, hugging me to his chest. “I love you too, Eden,” he said softly. “I should’ve told you sooner, but I was afraid of scaring you off.”
I cuddled into his warmth. “Iamscared,” I admitted. “Just a little. This is all so fucking…surreal, like, I can’t believe that someone as amazing as you could ever want someone like me.”
He pulled back so that we were face to face. His expression was suddenly fierce. “Don’t you ever say that.” His words escaped on a growl and a shiver trailed down my spine. He cupped my face in his hands and leaned in, until our lips were a mere breath away. “You are the most passionate Omega I’ve ever met, and I’m so damn thankful you chose me.”
“Oak…” A whine built in my throat, but he kissed my words away.
“I love you, Eden. I’ve loved you for months. I was just too blind to realize it,” he uttered. “Please, don’t ever think you’re not enough for me, because you are. You are. I can’t imagine my life without you. I don’t want to. Vale Valley is where I’m meant to be and I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”
I wrapped my arms around him and sank into his embrace. “Thank god for small miracles.”
It was only a little after nine PM, but Oakley whisked me off to bed. We laid together, naked and freshly mated, enjoying the touch of one another. He trailed his fingers up and down my arm, drawing tingles to the surface.
He nuzzled the back of my neck and breathed in deeply. “You smell so damn good,” he murmured. “You’re an addiction, Eden, and now you’re all mine.”
How could tenderness be such a turn on? But it was, and my body—and my heart—wanted more. More love, more touching, moreOakley.I crawled over and threw one leg over his waist, so I could straddle him. I planted my hands on his broad chest and smirked down at him.
The love in his eyes blazed as hot as fire, and it wasn’t just the heat of desire, either. This man, this drop-dead gorgeous and sweet as sugar Alpha, loved me.
I brushed my lips over his on a soft exhale, smiling into the kiss. “I love you,” I breathed again, needing to hear myself say the words. My grin only grew. “I love you so much, and now I’m gonna prove it.”
He laughed and cupped my hips with his big hands, urging me on. “Please, by all means, do.”
We made love for the second time that night, slow and sensual, our lips a breath apart as we came together with whimpers and grunts of pleasure. When his knot stretched me wide open and he spilled inside of me, I collapsed on his chest with a happy moan.
This was mine, and I would cherish every second of it, from now until forever.
